News Release

RED WING, Minn. – Northbound Highway 61 motorists in Red Wing are able to use a temporary left turn signal at Plum Street (Highway 58) in downtown Red Wing,according to the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation.

The Highway 63/Eisenhower Bridge remains open during this work.

The northbound left turn signal will only be temporary. It will be removed when the slip ramp opens in September 2019. The slip ramp is expected to ease traffic levels on Highway 61. Currently, the slip ramp is closed and all traffic entering Red Wing from Wisconsin uses the new buttonhook ramp with the signal at Highway 61.

MnDOT is working to sequence the traffic signals along Highway 61/Main Street to improve traffic flow since changes related to the bridge construction.

Earlier this season Third Street between Plum and Potter streets in Red Wing was closed. Third Street at Plum was turned into a 3-way stop by closing the north side for construction this year. The traffic signal system is also being removed. Once completed in October, the newly constructed intersection at Third and Plum will become a 4-way stop. The existing signal system there is slated to be removed permanently due to the anticipated traffic changes the new buttonhook provides.

During the closing of Third Street between Plum and Potter, the crossing at Potter will be kept open, except for periodic closures of the intersection for underground utility work. Pedestrians will use the south side of Potter to cross through the work area.

Overall, the Highway 63/Eisenhower Bridge project includes building a new bridge to replace the Highway 63/Eisenhower Bridge, replacing the historic slip ramp Highway 63 Bridge over Highway 61, reconstructing approach roadways in Minnesota and Wisconsin, improving access to Red Wing and upgrading pedestrian and bicyclist crossings. The prime contractor on this $63.4 million construction project is Zenith Tech. The new bridge is expected to open to traffic by fall of 2019.

Motorists should always be attentive, drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones. For real-time traffic information in Minnesota, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.